Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Welcome

As the seasons turn from warm to cold, and in my case COLDER. I'm going to seriously heat things up here on the blog.

As many of you may or may NOT know, I haven't read the Black Dagger Brotherhood Series yet. So for the rest of 2012 I'm doing just that. Reading the whole series from start to finish. Join me as I enjoy the series and talk all things BDB from the Brothers themselves to the women they come to love. Enjoy your favorite moments all over again as I discover them for myself.

If you'd like to join me I've created a linky list for you to join in! So join me as I enter the realm of the BDB and find my own Brother to swoon over and call my own.

Monday, November 12, 2012

It is the morning of Princess Cassandra’s sixteenth birthday. Everyone’s attention is focused on the heir to the vampire throne. World leaders, the rich and famous, and VIPs from every corner of the globe have gathered in the nation’s capital to celebrate the momentous event.

Cassandra’s boyfriend, Daniel, is late for the party. He’s still outside the city when all hell breaks loose. What he believes is an act of terrorism proves to be a full-fledged revolution.
Væmpires—former vampires who mutated into warm-blooded creatures with an insatiable hunger for cold blood—have launched coordinated attacks across the globe, with three goals: the eradication of humanity, the enslavement of vampires, and the ascension of væmpires as the dominant species on the planet.

The vampire and human leaders are killed. Cassandra is missing. Daniel is the acting king. Desperate to find the princess, Daniel and his friends fight their way across the besieged city. With the hopes of the free world resting on the shoulders of four vampire teenagers, væmpires unleash their secret weapons: a new breed of væmpire that is far deadlier than any ever seen before.

What can four teens do against an enemy that can shape-shift, fly, and walk through walls?

Review

Princess Cassandra (Cassie) is turning 16. Its the big important day she can officially be princess to her family. There is even a HUGE celebration in which many people have come to the royal estate, but things go terribly wrong and chaos erupts as her home is attacked by the væmpires. Cassie is wandering the halls where massive casualties have occurred, the guard is mostly dead and soon she discovers so are her parents in a most heinous way.

Daniel was out of town when the attack started, and heading back home he encounters numerous casualties in the streets as the væmpires are attacking and draining vampires at will. He is desperately trying to get back to Cassie's estate to check and see if she is there...when he tries to com her and can't reach her he panics. He tries his best friends and manages to get through temporarily as the væmpires have cut off com links across the world. Daniel finds out that this wasn't an isolated attack. His next thoughts race back to his own home where his family are, but he sees that many vampires outside of their homes need his help before he can reach his own home or Cassie's.

Daniel tries to reach his home and at first all he hears is static and then his father's voice which is flighty and he sounds very raspy... he has been attacked and Daniel's mother is already dead and his father is near death. His father tells him he must take his rightful place and think of the people first and man-up and be the king he is meant to be. Daniel is afraid to do so, but soon realizes he doesn't have a choice of the world will soon be taken over by the væmpires. As he returns home he runs into trouble with some væmpires preying on humans and others with powers noever before seen in their species. All the more frightening to vampire-kind and humans alike.

Meanwhile, Cassie is in her own battle as she was kidnapped by a væmpire, Vielyn, out to be the king. She struggles with his added strength, speed and second opposable thumb in order to free herself from being held captive in the capitols secret chamber cell. She finds a means to escape while Daniel fights his way back into the capitol in search of Cassie. Meanwhile only to be hunted down again by Vielyn and another væmpire with a power of her own. even when they are reunited, they are far from safe as this new væmpire's powers are unleashed leaving Daniel and Cassie fighting for their own and each other to survive.

This was a spellbinding novel and a gripping tale as the væmpires are almost superior to vampires in many ways - stronger, faster, and far more devious then anyone would have thought. I loved Cassie's determination not to give in and let the væmpires have their way with her and how she fought to be free and fight, even if just to see Daniel again. Daniel had to come into his rightful place as acting king and look at the bigger picture when he wanted nothing more than to be with Cassie. Seeing both of them fighting for each other was endearing and captivating as they would do whatever they could to end of the væmpires trying to kill them both. I give this a solid 4 stars.

It's almost Christmas. With the global holiday days away, the people of the world should be turning their attention toward celebrating peace and goodwill, but tension between humans, vampires, and væmpires is at an all-time high. Desperate for solutions, King Brant schedules a secret summit deep in North America's Northern Forest. Along with Queen Anne, Princess Cassandra, Daniel's family, and the human president and First Lady, the vampire leader seeks to reaffirm the ties between humans and vampires, while brainstorming ways to respond to the growing hostility among væmpires.

Meanwhile, Daniel and Cassie's relationship is at an all-time low. The princess is still reeling from her breakup with Vielyn, and Daniel doesn't know what he should or shouldn't do to help. Little does he know that the summit will be flooded with surprises--guests, allegations, accusations, proposals, and even Christmas Eve revelations--but not all of the surprises will be pleasant.

Review

NOTE: the events of White Christmas take place a full 6 months before the events of Revolutions, but is meant to be read AFTER revolutions...and for good reason!

Whit Christmas start with Daniel in slump, its right before Christmas and he's trekking to get to the secret location of the meeting of the Vampire King and Queen, the human president and some other select representatives to discuss the diminishing relationships that are occurring between races.

Daniel is nearing the location when he sees Cassie out in the woods, not sure how to broach her he keeps a distance so she doesn't see him watching her. When she returns inside Daniel comes in. and heads to his room to try and relax, knowing full well with the tension between him and Cassie at an all time high, even talking to her is an impossibility. Daniel dozes, off only to wake hours later to Cassie knocking. When they get to talking a little things begin to fall away and they start to talk again, but just as they start to get "cozy" trouble arrives at the compound...

Vaempires have arrived demanding to be let in and that they were intentionally left out of this meeting for a reason. (Obviously!) The arrive to cause trouble and in spades! Donrel the leder and only Vaempire on the council is ready to cause major trouble among the humans and vampires. Little do the King Queen and Human president know they already have their plans laid out...

Daniel knows their up to no good, but can't quite figure out what their strategy is, not to mention how they found out where the compound was. But whats worse, they have an insider with a power none of them knew about. But I digress, with the Vaempires now in on the meeting things get heated very quickly as accusation, allegations and rumors from past come to light and make the meetings very tense. The one rumor they claim will help bring about peace is one involving Cassie. That she broke off an engagement to a vaempire because of his mutation. Cassie vehemently denies this, but the council believe she should go through with it to help ease tensions. We all know Daniel gets his two cents in at this point, but gets in trouble in attempting to follow her as she leaves.

Later he decides to leave and clear his head, but didn't expect to run into Cassie doing the same thing as well. They start to talk about what happened at the meeting and their feelings for each other become sort of revealed. As they are together in the woods Daniel finds courage to give Cassie her Christmas gift....a sweet ending to a excellent pre-quel as it were. A great mid read between stories

The tale of The Evolutionary War resumes in Væmpires: Zombie Rising.

Væmpires have taken control of twelve major cities. Their leader, Vielyn, seeks the atomic weapons that will bring the rest of the world to its knees.

Vampire forces are reeling. As Linq and Ray race to the royal estate to rendezvous with Cassandra and Daniel, the princess is captured and Daniel falls.

With the fate of world shifting to their teenage shoulders, Linq and Ray must deal with tremendous losses while battling a most unexpected—and undeadly—new foe.

Review

This story by far is my favorite to date of this series. We get to see the events of Revolutions thru the perspective of Linq and Ray, Daniel's two best male friends, and his most trusted.

Ling and Ray are finally able to get through to Cassie, who got locked in a secure room by Daniel to keep her safe, but she doesn't like being locked away and so gets Ling to let her out, so she can go after Daniel who is after our major villain in the series, Vielyn. Can you say uber souped up creep-a-zoid? *shudders* They head into the fray in Orion and are heading toward the castle to find Cassie and Daniel. BUt they run into trouble, a group of Vaempires to deal with before they can get to far. They end up fighting the pair and are soon nearly outdone. When one decides to drain Linq nearly dry!

When Ry finally gets the one off Linq they quickly get him some synth-blood to help him heal and get back on his feet. The get back on track and to the palace, in the meantime Cassie is caught again by Vielyn this time...and things are worse then she fears as the events prior start to come back to her....Daniel is dead, killed by Vielyn right before her eyes.

Vielyn has Cassie and with Daniel dead the only hope lies on Linq and Ray. Cassie is trying to keep her head composed while dealing with Vielyn, but her actions only get her into hot water and Vielyn is ready to put her out of her misery...by removing her memories associated with Daniel that is. Then out of nowhere one of the nasty vamps from the compound appears....ready to kill Cassie since Vielyn won't do it.

Ray and Ling get in to the palace which is void of life, it even feels empty, almost haunted. As they get further in the sights of battle are everywhere, blood, overturned and damaged furniture, and everything is in shambles. As they head out toward the toer they catch the scent of their friends having been their and the carnage surrounding them gives them ample idea of what occurred. The continue to find scattered parts until they come to the the west ward and then it hits them...hard. Dead vamepire bodies and parts are everywhere, but one thing keeps them moving a beating heart... they stumble upon a body, and something about her seems off, but when they don't know...yet.

They end up dealing with a LOT for then they bargained for as they try to find Cassie and Daniel in the mess, but then the story takes off and I'm not going to ruin the rest as its too good to do to Tom's story. I know, evil aren't I. But those of you who love a good ending with a cliffhanger are going to DIE after you read the rest of what happens next. And to do that you need to read the book and see where it MIGHT take us next!

And there you have it. A review for each of the three stories thus far, I've loved what I've read to this point and I'm very anxious to see what Tom throws at us next. This last part gets a FIVE from me as it's got me hooked on his story. Thanks Tom for making me enjoy horror again and I'm eager to devour what you come up with next!

About the Author

Thomas Winship was born in Middletown, NY and still resides in Orange County. He holds an MBA in Management from St. Thomas Aquinas College, where he serves as an adjunct professor of courses in English Composition, Communications, and Business. He also spent fifteen years working for a global pharmaceutical company, specializing in organizational development, talent management, and training.

Tom writes in his spare time. His first novel, a mystery/legal thriller entitled Temporary Insanity (a.k.a. Case Closed), was a 2008 finalist in a national contest but failed to garner industry attention. His second novel, Væmpires: Revolution, was published in October and a follow-up novella, Væmpires: White Christmas, was published in December.

He is an avid collector of books, comic books, music, and movies. His interests are diverse: on any given day, Tom is likely to be found watching a horror movie, attending a hard rock concert, or enjoying a Broadway show.

He is currently working on the next installment of the “Væmpires” series, which is scheduled for an early 2013 release.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Good Morning Everyone. I am thrilled to be art of this blog tour. This was a book I have been looking forward for a long time. So without delay...I bring you Luminosity.

My name is Beatrice. When I was born, I was blessed with the Sight. I was immediately removed from my parents and enrolled in the Institution. At the age of twelve, I had my first true vision, earning my raven’s wings. And when I turned seventeen, one of my visions came true. Things haven’t been the same since.

The Institution depends on me to keep the City safe from our enemy, the Dreamcatchers, but I’m finding it harder to do while keeping a secret from everyone, including my best friend Gabe. It is a secret that could put us all in danger. A secret that could kill me and everyone close to me.

But the enemy has been coming to me in my dreams, and I think I’m falling in love with him. He says they’re coming. He says they’re angry. And I think I’ve already helped them win.

About Stephanie Thomas

Stephanie Thomas has been writing ever since she could put letters together to form words. When she was a small child, she would present her mother and father with self-made newspapers filled up with make believe stories and pictures. Her love for writing followed her all throughout her schooling, where she entered and won writing contests of all sorts. Stephanie decided to become an English teacher and completed her B.A. at The Pennsylvania State University. While teaching, she later went on to get her Master’s in writing from The Johns Hopkins University. She completed her very first manuscript during her graduate studies, and by the end of the program, she had completed two more.

Stephanie is quick to tell anyone that she’s a born and raised Philadelphian, and her heart will always belong there. She moved to Baltimore with her husband, and they’ve been living there for the last five years with their doggie, Sailor, and their rabbit, Buns (aka “T Sizzle).

Review

We are introduced to Seer Beatrice, or Bea to her friends. She was raised in the Institution, a place where children gifter with the Sight are raised to use their power to see the events of the future (Vision). When Seer Beatrice has a vision the leader, The Keeper, listens. When her visions start to predict a war with the Dreamcatchers, people whose Sight faded and then turned into a curse, The Keeper begins to make their Training more vigorous and dangerous.

When Seer Beatrice started hearing a voice in her head calling her name, and her visions start to change it unsettled her. And The Keeper is keeping more of an eye on her and her Visions, and letting her get away with things that most Seers would be penalized for it catches her attention. She sneaks out to find a former seer called The Widow with secrets of her own. What Bea finds out is startling, and it changes her perspective on things. She keeps her changing Visions from her best friend, Gabe, or Seer Gabriel. Gabe has caught on to this and begins to avoid Bea in hurt feelings she knew they both were developing for each other.

The dreamcatcher in her dreams starts to talk to her and show her his world outside the City walls. He says they need to save each other, but how when their on opposite sides. All Bea knows is that she feels safe with this Dreamcatcher. But the war starts sooner then thought, and The Keeper has them Training with real Beacon bullets and putting them against each other in a holographic world. Some Seers get hurt, others killed. Things only get worse from here, as The Keeper believes the war is upon them, and has them hunting an actual caught Dreamcatcher. When they start to find out startles their group and makes them rethink what is really going on.

When their world is rocked when the Dreamcatchers breach the barrier protecting the City the Seers are sent out to protect the Citizens, knowing that the Dreamcatchers could be anyone around them and to shoot and kill on the spot. They soon realize they have a plot in mind and that the real threat is back at their Institution. ONce inside things are much grimmer, many Seers are dead, looks of horror and fright frozen on their faces. But things aren't over. Things are just starting to come together. In order to find out what happens and how it ends, you need to read the book!

Stephanie does a great job of building a world where the City is the last surviving City around after a war the devastated the US. I liked how Bea developed and began to finally question what is truth and not, and not everything is how it was told. Be and her friends are all teens of varying ages. SO we get the young love through the story. It starts off a but slow as we get to know Bea and her friends. Ir's only the back half where the action takes place and the last major part is what leaves us wanting to know what happens "after". I'd give this a 3 of 5 , as I began to want to get to the the war and see how things are handled. Stephanie definitely made it have a strong impact and there are some things I knew were coming others were a surprise. I'm curious to see what the next story will affect Bea's development and introduce us to more of her world.

Giveaway

There is a giveaway going on with the blog tour. It is a US only Giveaway for a signed book and swag. Enter the Rallfecopter form below. Thanks for dropping in and good luck!

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Today I have Christie Rich here talking about Little Known books...of which I bet we all have at one point or another, so I give you Christie Rich! Welcome Christie!

Little Known Books

I don’t know about you but sometimes I want to read something original. I love a good vampire romance, but sometimes I’d like something with a new edge. I’m listing some of the books I’ve read lately that snared me and made me want more. This isn’t an all inclusive list by any means because I’ve read some great books lately, but these are the ones that came to mind when I tried to remember the best I’ve read lately.

Blood Debt by Nancy Straight—This one is completely original. I don’t recall another book about centaurs. The mythology is intriguing and I enjoyed the writing style. I got so involved in this story that I had to take my kindle shopping with me to finish the book. I’m sure a few people thought the men in white coats had lost me. I got to a critical point in the story and gasped in the ice cream isle, crying “No” to whoever might have been listening. Suffice it to say, the story problem resolved, but I literally had a panic attack because of this scene. It was so good. And for those of you who hate love triangles, this is your book. The main love interest, Drake, is swoon worthy without being a jerk, which I found refreshing.

Crux by Julie Reece—Again, the use of mythology in this book was amazing. It’s been a while since I’ve had such a visceral reaction to a book. For whatever reason I totally connected with Birdie, the protagonist, even though I hated her name, lol. When I met Birdie, she was homeless and in a bad way. A bunch of seemingly random events end up happening that turn out to be not random at all and Birdie is sucked into an adventure of a lifetime. I loved Julie Reece’s writing style and captivating characters. I totally hated it when this book ended, especially because it wasn’t part of a series. The ending was complete and satisfying, but I loved the characters enough to want to follow them around a bit more.

The Forever Girl by Rebecca Hamilton—This one was a surprise to me. I happened to see a tweet from Ms. Hamilton one day saying if I could unscramble a word, I could win her book. I did just that and she gifted me a copy of The Forever Girl from Amazon. I ended up contacting her to tell her how much I was enjoying her book and she and I became online buddies. The Forever Girl happens to be one of the best vampire reads I’ve read. It’s completely original and uses elemental power, which I love. I was completely captivated by the writing and the great storyline. This one is definitely worth the read.

What Kills Me by Wynne Channing—To be honest, when I found out about this book I thought, “not another vampire book”, but What Kills Me is anything but a carbon copy of what’s out there. It’s full of action and bright characters that were easy to connect with. I ate up the book in no time flat just to see what happened. Although this had some romance, it was more of an adventure mixed with a bit of horror. Some of the fight scenes were pretty intense.

Lichgates by S.M. Boyce—I don’t usually go for epic fantasy. I’m more of a paranormal gal, but I picked up a copy of Lichgates because the storyline intrigued me. It’s about a girl that goes hiking and ends up literally falling into another world. She is chosen by a book to be its guardian and has to learn magic and try to fend off all of these crazy otherworldly creatures. The imagination behind the story is great and I loved the world of Ourea and all the races S.M. Boyce created. Epic’s usually feel really long to me, but not this one. It totally sucked me in.

A White So Red by Krystle Jones—I love Snow White and this retelling was amazing. The depth of the world kept me glued to the pages, and the characters had an original twist.
Curse Girl by Kate Avery Ellison—Growing up on Disney films set a love in my heart for fairytales.

Curse Girl is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast that has such a great cast of characters and wonderful storyline. Even though the story followed the main structure of Disney’s version of Beauty and the Beast, the story felt totally original. I came away wishing it had been longer and wanting to know what happened after the resolution happened. The alternate world created by Ellison was compelling, and I’m kind of hoping she dips into that world for another story at some point.

A Demon Made Me Do It by Penelope King—I love books that make me question my beliefs. In this book the demons aren’t necessarily the bad guys. They’re not traditional, by any means, either, which was surprising. I totally hate labels, so every time I found myself thinking, “but this is a demon, they should be bad,” I went, oh, wondering how many times.

Obsidian (Lux Book I) by Jennifer L. Armentrout—I’m kind of glad I didn’t know much about this book going in. If I’d known it was about aliens I might have been less enthusiastic. An online friend of mine went ga-ga over it, so I gave it a go. Two things: Armentrout can write. I love her characters, her descriptions, everything about the way she tells a story. The only thing is, some of her books have gotten a little close to being too adult to be YA. That being said, this book rocked my socks and I fell in love.

A Hidden Fire by Elizabeth Hunter—Like my first book, Five (Elemental Enmity Book I), A Hidden Fire is free on Amazon. I picked it up on a whim and started reading. I couldn’t stop. It’s brilliant. The characters are real, and made me care about them. I loved the action as well as the romance in the book, and I’m looking forward to continuing the series. Once again I found myself reading another vampire book, but I have to say that the genre seems to have sprouted new wings. The books I’ve read lately have been anything but a carbon copy of Twilight.

So there you have it, my list of fantastic reads you might not have heard about. What about you? What books have snagged you this year? I’d love to know.

Thanks Christie.... Surprisingly I have several of those books in my Kindle and I've read a few of those you have listed as well.... I couldn't agree more with your thoughts on What Kills Me. It was a page turner for sure with fight scenes that were almost out of anything you'd see in the Matrix...LOL

Rayla Tate’s life is about to turn vertical…again. As if it wasn’t bad enough her mother disappeared under questionable circumstances leaving Rayla to be raised by her aunt in a horrendously small town. Her overprotective guardian is determined to ruin Rayla’s life. She refuses to let Rayla out of her sight or out of the state. Provincial living might be what her aunt demands of her purposely sheltered niece; but, Rayla has other ideas. In a desperate attempt to follow her dreams she flees the safety of her home and runs away to college with her best friend toward a bright future in the art world.

However, excitement over her newfound freedom turns into terror when she is chased by a mysterious stranger on her way to school. When his motorcycle suddenly morphs into a fire-breathing pegasus, Rayla questions her sanity. Worse, the man riding next to her stirs a burning desire in her soul she has never known or could have ever imagined. Using all the will she owns, she manages to resist the compulsion she feels; yet, as he disappears into the night, she is certain he hasn't gone far.

Rayla quickly dismisses the encounter to her overactive imagination. She is determined to settle into her new life, yet the images and feelings of that night still haunt her. To make matters worse, her aunt seems to be in on the act, insisting that Rayla will soon be hunted by a pack of fae lords for a power over the elements she never knew she possessed—a power that could change the world. Quicker than she ever thought possible, she finds herself surrounded by stunning men that all seem determined to win her heart. Why does she feel drawn to each one of them? More importantly, what dark power do they hold over her? Rayla must quickly learn to fend off these beautiful and seductive pursuers using whatever means necessary or find herself lost to the fae world forever.

Excerpt

The view of the sunset reminded me of my favorite bluff back home. Nothing but sky was visible in the horizon. I might as well have been standing on the edge of the world gazing at the gilded gates of heaven.

“I will never tire of seeing that,” a melodic voice erupted behind me.

If I had gotten a bit more air, I would have landed on Mars. “Zach.” I put a hand against my pounding heart. “You scared me.” I hadn’t even heard him come up to me.

“I noticed.” He smirked. “I was trying my best not to disturb you. You looked so peaceful, but I am a selfish man.” He chuckled, moving closer.

My attraction to him was hard enough to handle when he had all his clothes on. My pulse raced with his approach for an entirely different reason. He had the sort of flawless body that belonged on the airbrushed pages of a magazine. His skin glowed golden in the blazing sunset that brought out rusty hues in his dark hair. My fingers itched to trace every angle of his sculpted abdomen and chest.

“Leave it to you to make this thing look good,” he said, running a finger under the strap on my shoulder. “By rights, it should be burned. Are you going to tell me why you insisted on wearing it?”

“No.”

He traced my collarbone. “Really?” In one fluid motion, I was in his arms, and he was carrying me deeper into the water.

I hoped he couldn’t feel the thud of my heart beating against his chest. “What do you think you’re doing?” I asked more calmly than I felt.

“Changing your mind,” he said just as evenly.

I could see where he was going with this, and over the edge of a cliff wasn’t my idea of fun. “Don’t.”

He grinned. “Tell me.”

I stiffened in his arms. “If you do this, I will leave—without you.” His exaggerated exhale tickled my neck, sending goose-bumps down my body.

“Don’t you ever relax?”

I gritted my teeth, hating what I had become in the past few weeks. If he had tried this back home, I would have protested, giggled, and screamed but loved every minute of his antics.
Things were different now. I was on edge constantly. “I’m so not okay with heights. Let me down.”

The set of his jaw didn’t give me any comfort. He walked up a ramp between the two converging rivers that made the waterfall. On sure feet, he stepped to the edge. I honestly didn’t know how he was still standing with the water blasting against his knees. He leaned into my ear. “Tell me.”

I clung to his neck like grime to a barn cat. “I don’t want to.”

He looked over the edge and back at me. The humor in his gaze died. He sighed, stepping back a few paces. My heart found its way back into my chest. He carried me to a lounge chair, setting me down gently.

“You can’t possibly think that thing is pretty,” he commented after a while.

“Pretty isn’t everything,” I said.

He raised his brows, tucking his strong chin inward in mockery then looked at me sidelong. “It helps.” He smiled teasingly.

I shot him a dirty look before giving him my back. He placed a timid hand on my shoulder.
“Come, now. It can’t possibly be as bad as all that.”

Why couldn’t he just let it go? I wasn’t all up in his business, why did he feel the need to be in mine. “Drop it already.”

I wouldn’t look him in the eye. If I did he would see every insecurity I had. “I was before you decided to go all Tarzan on me.”

He thumped his chest, doing a great imitation of the call. I tried to smile, but I didn’t think it helped.

“You weren’t like this the other day.” He turned away as if in thought, glancing at me hastily. “Don’t you like swimming?”

The other day I didn’t have four terrifying men after me. I would have liked to give him an easy out, but I didn’t want to lie. “I usually love it.”

Cassie had an indoor pool back home. On the rare occasion I actually got to stay the night at her house, we would spend hours in the water. She taught me how to float first. I had progressively gotten better. I was an adequate swimmer now. The one thing I didn’t like was the high-dive.

He frowned. “Is it me?” His brows furrowed as though he was really worried. “Have I done something to offend you?”

I closed my eyes, inhaling sharply. “I’m sorry. I’ve had fun today, really. I just have other things on my mind right now.”

He grinned, tucking my hair behind my ear. “I’m a great listener.”

I didn’t like being such a disappointment, but I couldn’t snap myself out of it. I could just imagine how fast he’d be gone if I did tell him everything that was wrong with me at the moment. “I’d rather not talk about it right now.”

He knelt in front of me and took my hands in his. “You can’t expect me to not be curious.”
“It’s a free country,” I said. “Be curious all you like.” I was pushing him away when normally I would have been doing everything in my power to keep him interested in me.

The sun had made its final descent. The haze of twilight settled all around us with the stars spotting the barely glowing sky. In a few minutes, I would be able to relax a little.
Zach tugged my hand. “Do you wish to go join the others?” He sounded dejected.

Why was I acting like this? I needed to snap out of it. My mood wasn’t his fault. “If you don’t mind, I’d rather stay here for a while.”

He nodded then moved to a lounge chair opposite me, wasting no time in getting comfortable. “Why don’t you tell me of your home?”

The subject seemed safe enough. “Have you ever been to eastern Utah?”

He made an odd sound, sort of a half concealed groan. “It has been many years.”
He wasn’t old enough for it to have been that long ago. I leaned back and put my arms behind my head preparing to give him details.

“I see,” he said in a sympathetic tone, his eyes soft with compassion.

I followed his gaze down to my exposed torso. How could I have been so stupid? The bottom half of my scar poked out from beneath the fringe. I bolted up, pulling awkwardly at the fabric.

He shook his head. “Everyone has imperfections, Rayla.” In an instant he moved to the edge of my chair. Calloused fingers caressed my shoulder before skimming down my arm. “Some are just more visible than others.”

I turned away. Then I got mad. “Really, where’s yours?”

His face crinkled thoughtfully. His eyes held haunted shadows. “You’d be surprised.”

I gave him a look. “Enlighten me.”

“There are certain things I want to change so badly about myself that it consumes my life.” Unless he was a fantastic actor, he was being sincere.

“Like?”

He grimaced, only slightly, but it was enough to make me wonder. “I would rather not get into that with you yet.”

I cocked my jaw, clicking my tongue. “It’s okay for me, but not for you, huh?”

He leveled his gaze to mine seriously. “If a scar is all you have to hide, you should be thankful.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

The truth burned me like a solar flare. I should have been able to put on a pretty bikini without so much as a second thought, but I wasn’t there yet. I hoped I would be some day. I felt ridiculous being so shallow. “You didn’t answer my question,” I said after a moment of hesitation.

The lines of his face turned hard. “I know.”

“There you are,” Natalie yelled, cresting the hill in a sprint with Sam close behind her.

“Help me, Rayla!” She crouched down between my chair and the stacked rock wall.

Attempting to wrench away from him, she said desperately, “You can put ice in my suit. Rayla, do you have a drink?”

Sam smiled wickedly. He looked over at the edge of the falls. Did all male minds work the same? “I have something better in mind.”

She put her hands on his cheeks. “Please, Sam. I’m sorry. I won’t do anything like that again.”

He grabbed her wrists, pushing her into the river. She kicked at him and squealed the entire way.

“Not after this,” he said, grinning. Without another word, he pinned her arms to her sides in a bear hug. She smiled at him. I couldn’t see his expression, but her eyes flew wide just before he shouted, “Geronimo.”

Her “No” was squelched when they hit the water. Zach grinned down at me. My smile shriveled.

“Don’t even think about it,” I said when he came closer. Natalie’s laugh rang clear from below.

“Not that I don’t find the idea tempting once more, but I think I will pursue your affections another way.”

About Christie

I grew up daydreaming about fairytales, and my love for discovering new worlds has never died. I am not one of those writers who always knew I would write. I thought that was what other people did until one day a few years ago, I took a challenge from a friend and typed my first words. My journey has been wonderful, and I cannot imagine a day where I would ever give up writing now. My love for reading is what fueled my imagination in the first place and still does. When I am not writing or reading, I am enjoying family time with my husband and two children. We live in a quiet community under the Wellsville mountains in Utah, and I am so thankful for the rich life I have been blessed with.

Where to find Christie:

Book's Links:

Review

Meet Rayla Tate... a recent high school graduate whose Aunt is set on having her attend the local college. Rayla on the other hand wants more from her life then living the rest of her life out in rural Utah. When her Aunt refuses to listen about going away for college, Rayla sets off a chain of events she never in her wildest dreams thought would ever be real.

When she cleaves Utan with her friend Carrie all of the sudden a motorcyclist turns into a huge frightening pegasus with a hulking driver riding atop the wild beast...but can Rayla trust what she is seeing, or is her mind playing tricks on her? When she stop her car to try to escape the scary things she thinks is out there it's suddenly gone. Her best friend is clamming up on her and won't tell her if she believes what they know they both saw wa actually real. They carry on to their new school with no other unusual events.

Events start to unravel from here. Carrie clams up more and they begin to have fights. ONe night Rayla takes a jog and runs ont a man in her path, and she is mysteriously drawn to him ,but knows nothing of this man in front of her. She manages to come to her senses and leaves with some new friend, Natalie. One afternoon in the bookstore they are approached by a group of four guys who all look like varying cultural versions of gods...Carrie is VERY jealous of the attention which focuses on Rayla and NOT her. They all try and offer to buy her a shirt for the upcoming football game, but she feels uneasy with the approach they take and gaining her affections. Then she meets Zach and her world tilts on its axis. He is nothing like the others and treats her well.

Meanwhile she is finding out more about what she is then she had cared to know, no thanks to her aunt. She is an elemental, a being capable of controlling one or more element - earth, air, wind, water or fire. She was sent to her aunts when her mother was "killed" and sent to be protected from a fate she never knew laid before her. The four guys fron the bookstore aren't humans, but Fey lords set to try and bond with her to gain power over her element and controlo over her. Her world isn't safe outside of Utah and college is not whats it's cracked up to be.

There is so much more to the story, but I can't give it all away or it won't be fun for you to read, but I really enjoyed the world building in her worlds, as you get a small glimpse of the certain parts of Faieria, where many of the characters are from. There are a lot of small revelations throughout the story which lead up to the cliffhanger of a climax at the end which I did NOT see coming! It has be waiting for the next novel. A very good Fey story with a ton of twists along the way.

Monday, November 5, 2012

I feel so fortunate to have Laura Kaye back on the blog again for her tour of Brady's story titled One Night with a Hero.

Hello Again Laura. I’m apparently addicted to Heroes and HAD to have you back with Brady’s story now out!

Okay, a gal’s gotta ask: Where the devil did that whipped cream scene come from? I about died of a hernia laughing so hard trying to get through that!

LOL! Awesome! I’m glad you had fun with that scene! I don’t really know where it came from! But the minute Joss brought that can of whipped cream in from the kitchen, I knew they were going to have some fun with it!

Brady is a very persistent and yet, caring gentleman. How did his hard upbringing shape his character?

His childhood experiences after his mother died shaped him fundamentally. His is so fearful of turning into his father that he doesn’t even realize how good of a person he is. My heart really hurts for Brady during a lot of this book.

Joss was a very fun puzzle to piece together. She seems tough and gruff on the exterior but she’s like any other female on the inside. Was she fun to write?

Joss was amazing to write. Yes, she does struggle with insecurities, but she’s also amazingly strong and resilient. She’s a survivor. And I loved writing a heroine who had a more unusual appearance…

Joss is one tough cookie at first for Brady to crack, she didn’t truly think he’d come back…not to mention be the way he was with her at the park. Did seeing that help her see the more relaxed side of who Brady is?

Joss was pretty taken with Brady all the way around. And each new layer she peeled back more him even more appealing. The more she knows him, the more she realizes he’s a much more complicated guy than she imagined that first night.

When they started spending time together it was more for the “physical release” they seemed to both need to feel loved at the time, but they both knew it was turning into more. Their feelings must have been becoming more involved as they felt so at ease. Was it meant to happen that way?

There’s a lot of physical interactions frontloaded into the first half of this story, and those scenes are definitely there for a reason. Both Joss and Brady believes they can safely participate in the sex and keep their hearts guarded, but the sex serves to bring them together emotionally whether they want it to or not.

Brady stalled for a while on going to get his closure, was this by his own accord or did he need to work through other things before he was really ready to confront his past?

Brady had to find a way to getting emotionally and mentally prepared to find his closure, because he feared if he gave up his anger, he’d have nothing left.

Brady gets a double whammy which sends him overboard. Did the order in which these occurred play an importance in how he reacted and how things panned out from there?

Unquestionably, yes. Without offering spoilers (grins!), his reaction would’ve been different if he’d learned the second piece of information before the first. Learning about these two things in the order he did made it all the worse, and made him feel like the one path out of the anger he could see was gone forever, and with it, a future he might’ve wanted for himself.

It took Brady a very long time to realize he never really needed to get full closure from his father. That he was in control of how things played out. How does that affect him?

It’s a total revelation to him. But it also frees him to pursue what he’s finally realizes he wants.

We get to see Marco and Alyssa again and they played a HUGE part in the outcome. Did that plan out as you wanted or did they decide how best to make it happen and do it their way?

I always knew that Her Forbidden Hero’s Marco and Alyssa would play an important role in this story. Marco, Alyssa and Brady were always too close for it to be otherwise. Marco was the person in Brady’s life who had always called him out, and Alyssa wants to take care of him, too. I really love the pair of them in this book.

When Marco “knocks some sense into him” everything seems to fall into place. He seemed to change in an instant. He knew what he had to do. With that in mind he set out on his mission. Was he happy to finally have the clarity he needed and know where he belonged?

Absolutely. There’s a repeating theme in the book of Brady trying to clear his head, so the moment he finally finds that clarity, he’s a man on a mission and he does everything it takes to be successful.

With the set now completed what’s next on your WIP list? I know you just had a HUGE deal go through with Harper Collins. What can us readers anticipate to read next?

Right now I’m working on South of Surrender, the third book in the Greek-mythology-inspired Hearts of the Anemoi series set to release in Spring 2013. After that, I’ll be writing the third Vampire Warrior Kings novella. Next, I’ll start working on the first of the books in my new Hard Ink series with Harper Collins/Avon—I’m so excited about that!!!

Thanks for stopping by again Laura! It’s always a pleasure to have you stop in!

Where to find Laura Kaye

After growing up with an abusive, alcoholic father, Army Special Forces Sgt. Brady Scott vowed never to marry or have kids. Sent stateside to get his head on straight—and his anger in check—Brady’s looking for a distraction. He finds it in his beautiful new neighbor’s one-night-only offer for hot sex, but her ability to make him forget is addictive. Suddenly, Brady’s not so sure he can stay away.

…what they need is each other.

Orphaned as a child, community center director Joss Daniels swore she’d never put herself in a position to be left behind again, but she can’t deny herself one sizzling night with the sexy soldier who makes her laugh and kisses her senseless. When Joss discovers she’s pregnant, Brady’s rejection leaves her feeling abandoned. Now, they must overcome their fears before they lose the love and security they’ve found in each other, but can they let go of the past to create a future together?

About Laura Kaye:

Voted Breakout Author of the Year in the 2011 GraveTells Readers’ Choice Awards, Laura is the bestselling and award-winning author of over a half-dozen books in contemporary and paranormal romance. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. A published non-fiction author, Laura’s work as an historian and training as an archaeologist help her create vivid and accurate portrayals of other times and places. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

Review

Army Special Forces Sgt. Brady Scott is sent stateside to get his affairs back home in check, and his anger problem as well. But he didn't expect the feisty and fiery Joss Daniels to call him a freaking "Sailor". Bring it on! Brady is one tough cookie to back down fron a challenge, and when Joss finally cracks under his gaze it's instant fireworks. even under them, and on her truck in dark vacant parking lot.

Joss is instantly attracted to Brady, but to her all men are alike..they walk all over you and then rip your heart out. Leaving you in shreds, but she couldn't herself from eggin him on...and finding that he'd eagerly take her on. He's not what she expected in a one night stand. He's kind, considerate and not afraid to go after what he wants...her at the time.

When Joss offers the perfect solution of a one night stand for them both it releases Brady's self control and he shows her a night of pleasure that leaves her feeling like she was treasured and cared for. When she suddenly finds him standing at her door at 7am, she's dumbfounded....their neighbors! Oh my! This sets off the afore mentioned whipped cream incident I nearly died laughing in! who knew! But its not all fun and games for these two. As they start to have more tie together and get to know a little, they both go into protective modes and Brady claims that he can't be capable of love and he'd only end up leaving her. She claims that they all see her as a friend and not girlfriend material.

Brady does a near one-eighty and hurt Joss in the process. He start avoiding her and trying not to draw attention to himself around her. Doing anything, including working crazy hours to stay away, but she lingers in his thoughts. Meanwhile poor Joss is knee deep in work and suddenly finds herself feeling ill. ONe night when Joss is watching a young baby and she gets violently sick, Brady cones to the rescue and cares for her. Joss shortly there after has a huge revelation which knocks her cold. And when Brady find out things REALLY hit the fan! Joss kicks him out and refuses to talk to him after his reaction to her news.

Brady is on the verge of getting his affairs back in order and his military life back to how he wants it, but when another problem occurs he looses it. He feels that he can't get the closure he needs to move on. Leave it to your best friend to "knock some sense" into Brady. And with sone help from his Sister he tries to fix things with Joss, but find she's hard pressed to trust him and let him back into her life. With a LOT of patience and a whole lot of creativity he bcomes a man he never knew he could be.

Laura Kaye has done it again in this second and last of Her "Heroes" series. I fell in love with military men all over again. Brady is captivating and complex in a perfect way. Joss is a true won in bas-ass chick skins! They fint together so well and to see their story play out it melts your heart. Laura knows how to write a hero and make him feel like he's real. A perfect fun, yet sext love story you don't want to miss.

Giveaway!

Laura is beign kind and offering a giveaway of an eBook of One Night with a Hero to one lucky commentor on the blog. Please leave your E-mail address in the comments so we can contact the winner. Otherwise it won't count. Thats for sopping in and good luck!

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Welcome all to the Wicked After Dark Giveaway Hop. It's the time of year when our wicked sides tend to come out to play. What better way to play then to be at our sexiest. I'm spicing things up here on the blog for this giveaway. I'm going to be giving away two gift cards...one to any ladies FAV place to feel SEXY, Victoria's Secret and the other for Bath and Body Works. Each is a $15 USD value.
All you have to do is fill in the rafflecopter form below. Good luck and thanks for stopping my my lovelies!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Don't forget about the other fellow bloggers and authors who are participating in this Wicked hop! So be even more wicked and stop in to see how wicked you can ultimately be!

Welcome to the Spooktacular Giveaway Hop. I'm thrilled to be participating in the hop. I have some really great prizes for our victims err... guests. I love Halloween, so my giveaway is related in a way. I happen to love dressing up as something I'm not, so getting into costume is always fun for me. Please share what you like about Halloween.

The giveaway starts on the 23rd and goes until MIDNIGHT on Halloween. There are over 400 participants in the blog so make sure to drop in and see what they have up for grabs! Below are the details for the prizes.Thanks for stopping by and being my guests for the hop!

Monday, October 22, 2012

Welcome to the Monday Mashup. This is a no frills, but all thrills meme with no commitment issues! Just fun getting to know fellow bloggers. This blog is hosted by Amy H of DJ Library Dishes and Poison Rose of Picked byPoison. All we want to do is introduce you to your fellow bloggers whom you may or may not know and share the blog love!
If you'd like to be featured, or know someone you'd like us to feature, contact either Amy or Poison. Welcome to the Meme and enjoy getting to know another blogger.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you?
Hi everyone and thanks Sara for inviting me over!! Well I’m Francesca and I blog over at Under the Covers. I’m a 29 book addict, animal lover, sometimes health nut and newly engaged. I am originally from Italy, grew up in Panama (yeah the country), lived in many cities of Florida and currently trying to adapt to life in New York (after moving here three years ago)

How long have you been blogging?
I’ve been blogging for about a year and a half. We started Under the Covers in May 2011. Wow, time flies!

Why did you get into blogging?
It seemed as if all of my friends at the time had started a blog and were having fun with it. After much resistance to the idea we all jumped in with a full commitment to it and now we are having a great time!

What are you currently reading, or what is your favorite book that you have read so far in 2012?
Hmmmm Fave books is a hard question because I’ll have to think about it. But I can tell you a few WICKED AS THEY COME by Delilah S. Dawson because it was amazingly unique. The RESCUE ME series by Kallypso Masters because it breaks my heart one book at a time. The Unbound series by Rachel Vincent is one not to miss!! I also discovered some amazing authors this year: Katie Porter, Carrie Lofty, Tessa Dare, Roni Loren, Tori St. Claire, Vivian Arend, Emma Lang. I have also taken a step to the wild side and started reading m/m this year, after the peer pressure of some good friends. I am loving Damon Suede, Anne Tenino and Daisy Harris.

If you could eat dinner with any author or character, who would it be and why>?
Author… Lorelei James. I think she’s amazing and a lot of fun. Characters: John Matthew, Blay and Qhuinn from BDB. And then we can have some after dinner fun ;)

What literary location would you most like to visit? Why?
Caldwell, New York. Why? Because the brothers are there and John Matthew has to meet me so he realizes that I’m his true shellan.

Hmm.. That sounds like what Annie said last week. What is your favorite part about the book blogging community? Is there anything that you would like to see change in the coming years?
I love the whole book community. Bloggers and readers alike. I think the book blogging community is pretty supportive of each other, which I don’t think was the case when we started blogging. I do think that sometimes people that have any type of following should watch what they say because I’ve seen bloggers and authors alike make themselves look bad. Social media is a marketing media and I think people should treat it that way. And readers and the book community in general because I have so much fun every time I attend a romance book convention! You guys are awesome and so much fun!!!

Have your reading tastes changed since you started blogging? How?
Wow yes! My reading tastes were changing even before I started blogging because I think as time passes, your tastes on everything change. Reading is no different. Sometimes I cringe at my ratings for books I read a few years ago. But I think blogging has changed them because it exposes me to authors or books that I would normally not have read.

And about you:

Tell us three non-book-related things that everyone reading your blog may not know about you.

I used to love horror movies, but now I can’t stomach them. Yeah, I turned into a wuss.

I don’t like sweets of pretty much any kind. I’d much rather eat some bread or cheese.

You can usually find me with a drink in my hand.

What do you like to do in your downtime (besides read of course)?
Right now I’m having the best time with home décor! I just moved into my new house a couple of months ago and have been doing some furniture shopping and now more recently redesigning rooms to get remodeled. Yes, I’m addicted to the Do It Yourself channel, all the Extreme Makeover, Yard Crashers, Kitchen Crashers, etc… Ohhhh and I LOOOOOOOOVE The Voice.

If you were given a break to do one thing on your “bucket list” what would you do?
Damn…. I’ve always wanted to skydive but as time goes by I realize I could never do it. So I’d have to go with taking an RV trip through the castles of Europe. My mom did it when she was first married and I would love to do the same, sounds and looked like it was so amazing.

If you went to your dream vacation spot where would we find you?
Usually I’d say anywhere with a beach BUT since this is DREAM vacation I’m going to go with AUSTRALIA. I’ve always wanted to go there.

Thanks so much for sharing Francesca. It was fun to pick you mind and see if I could stump you! *grins* I'm going to be more like toy and not like sweets after I'm done on my diet, but its for the bettering of my health. Congrats on your engagement!!!

Monday, October 15, 2012

Welcome to the Monday Mashup. This is a no frills, but all thrills meme with no commitment issues! Just fun getting to know fellow bloggers. This blog is hosted by Amy H of DJ Library Dishes and Poison Rose of Picked byPoison. All we want to do is introduce you to your fellow bloggers whom you may or may not know and share the blog love!
If you'd like to be featured, or know someone you'd like us to feature, contact either Amy or Poison. Welcome to the Meme and enjoy getting to know another blogger.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you?
My name is Annie and I’m a blogger/reviewer at Under the Covers Book Blog. I also review for FreshFiciton.com as well. I live in Canada and I am an avid reader. My love for David Gandy is well documented. You can stalk me on Twitter at @AnnCraven – It’s okay, I like it.

How long have you been blogging?
I've been blogging for a year and a half approximately. So still relatively new.

Why did you get into blogging?
Well, I used to review books on Goodreads just for fun, telling friends about the books I've read and why I loved them. From that, many of my other friends started blogging and it seemed like the next logical step. When we first started UTC, we just wanted to spread the word about our favorite books and have some fun in the process!

What are you currently reading, or what is your favorite book that you have read so far in 2012?
I am currently reading THE SEDUCTION OF ELLIOT MCBRIDE by Jennifer Ashley. This is a December 2012 release and omg, it’s just amazing! Highland Pleasures is one of my favorite series and Ashley pens a fantastic story for Elliot! He’s the newest addition to my hottie harem ;).

My favorite book I've read this year is probably Tiffany Reisz's The Original Sinners. Both THE SIREN and THE PRINCE blew my mind. They are definitely not books for the lighthearted. But I think more people should try SWEET AS SIN by Inez Kelley too. That book is amazing!

What is your favorite feature on your blog (i.e. author interviews, memes, something specific to your blog)?
I love doing our Reading On the Darkside posts. They’re always so fun and we do a lot of them together. It’s cool to put faces to our favorite characters and seeing how our opinions differ from one another. We may be casting the same character, but we each picture vastly different people. It’s also nice when we get input from the Maidens.

Where do you see your blog in five years?
Oh, gosh… Hmm, hopefully bigger and better? We’re always trying to come up with something new and different for the Maidens, hoping that it sets us apart from other blogs. I’m lucky to be doing this with a great group of girls so I guess we’ll just have to see!

Which is your favorite post that you have written that you want everyone to read?
NO CLUE. I guess we just hope that people read our reviews first and foremost. I love it when people come up to me and tell me they loved the book I recommended or reviewed on the blog.

If you could eat dinner with any author or character, who would it be and why>?
Hands down, I’d pick Karen Marie Moning. I’m a huge fan of both her Fever series and her Highlanders. I think if I could pick her brain for a night, I would be in complete bliss. She writes so well and with such heart that I think readers are helpless but to fall prey to her every whim. She writes, I devour – It’s that simple.

And imagine if Barrons was present at the dinner table? *thud*

What literary location would you most like to visit? Why?
Tough question! I have absolutely no clue. But I did stumble upon this picture of the Long Room of the Trinity Library in Dublin, Ireland. It looks so enchanting, like something out of my favorite book!

But if we’re talking hypothetically, imagine stepping into the Brotherhood mansion in J.R. Ward’s BDB series!!! I think I would squeal with excitement and run around the whole place, screaming, “I want to be a shellan!” stopping only to grab a Brother and lock myself in a room with him.

What is your favorite part about the book blogging community? Is there anything that you would like to see change in the coming years?
My favorite part has to be conversing with other readers and bloggers. Reading is very much a solitary act, but when you get the chance to talk to someone else about books, it becomes something more. You can create excitement, joy and anticipation. It can be an uplifting experience.

Have your reading tastes changed since you started blogging? How?
Yes and no. I think in a way it has changed a little bit. I think I've become more open to books and authors and genres that I wouldn't have tried if it weren't for blogging. But at the same time, I know what I like and what genres fit me the most so if I’m in need of a comfort read, I know what to turn to. If I’m feeling more adventurous, then I’ll try something new.

I went from reading a lot of Young Adult before blogging and only about a year before I started blogging did I start reading Romance and Urban Fantasy books. I still haven’t gotten over this phase and I doubt I ever will. I have been reading more extreme BDSM books and have still been enjoying my M/M books. My curiosity has led me to more extreme examples of my favorite genres.

And about you:

Tell us three non-book-related things that everyone reading your blog may not know about you.
This is such a hard question! I’m so boring and uninteresting!

I had a Mohawk once. And not the wussy kind where you just slick down the sides and spike up the top. I had the sides shaved down and everything! I did it because of a dare (and you know I never turn down a dare!) and when it grew out, I had this fugly bowl-cut.

What do you like to do in your downtime (besides read of course)?
I used to paint a lot in my free time before I got into reading. Growing up, I wasn’t really a big reader and used to paint and sketch a lot. But now, with all the book series I’ve been trying to read, that leaves no time for painting anymore.

If you were given a break to do one thing on your “bucket list” what would you do?
Write a book.

If you went to your dream vacation spot where would we find you?
A beach somewhere, with David Gandy rubbing suntan oil into my skin ;P

Flash Round

Cake or pie?
cake

Coffee or tea?
Coffee

Beach or mountains?
Definitely the beach! Mountains and I don’t mix well.

Night owl or morning dove?
Night Owl. I’m grumpy in the mornings.

Thanks so much for sharing Annie. It was fun to pick you mind and see if I could stump you! *grins* I have to agree a litte David Gandy is nice eye candy for all ladies. ;-)

Thursday, October 11, 2012

I know this is completely off topic for the blog, but I felt my journey towards a healthier life is best shared and hopefully accepted along my weight loss path. I will be sharing small "tidbits" about how I feel each day, weekly progress and other things I think would be of interest.

Short Background:After my son Ryan was born in 2004 I was told I had VERY high blood pressure (Hypertension Stage 2) and was put on daily medication. I have been living a fairly sedate lifestyle, with little to no constant exercise or much physical activity. With the medication I was on containing a diuretic (water pill) I also had to go in for blood work semi annually. It was a week or so after my most recent visit in the end of September that the letter that spurred this change arrived by mail. My blood work was abnormal. My Doctor informed me that I was now a very high pre-diabetic and that my blood glucose level was VERY high as well. If I didn't make changes I very likely would end up becoming diabetic.

I was horrified, I am still young by most standards and not exactly "fat" but as I have taken note of how I have lived my life and the implications of continuing that life, I had to make a change. That letter was the catalyst I needed. I chastised myself for letting my health get to this point and I cried thinking about what could happen to my family if my health continued on that downward slope.

After taking a week to look over the various options I decided to go to a Medifast Center and see if it is right for me. With their support and weekly check-ins I can see my progress on a manageable scale and see the changes in myself. Today I begin my journey to a healthier slimmer me. One with enough energy to keep up with Ryan, go out dancing with the girls or to exercise without getting exhausted within a few minutes. I'm not thinking of this as a "diet" its a progressive lifestyle change. And one I plan to conquer.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

It's time for the HOT in Handcuffs giveaway from Under the Covers Book Blog. Lately my smut has been all about Witches, shifters and Leviathans???? Hmm... but I digress. There is SOO much good smutty love to be had out there. I'm choosing one of my latest human based smut to a lucky US only commenter on the blog today. I'm giving away not one, not even 2, but THREE prizes this time. Details about each prize is below ans the Linky List of Blogs in the hop are at the very bottom of the post. Thanks for stopping in and Good Luck!

Prize One

Two Winners will each get their choice of a travel kit of a fragrance fron Bath and Body Works (provided it is available in my area.) My personal favorite is the Japanese Cherry Blossom.

Prize Two

Tis the season for double seduction.

The only item on Jana Colton’s Christmas list this year is Kevin Monahan. Preferably naked in her bed. The delicious, hunky chef has been resisting her forever, but she’s pulling out all the sexy stops this holiday. Especially since his acceptance of an out-of-state job threatens to nix her quest to rock his boxers off.

Jana has always been Kevin’s personal Kryptonite, but giving in to her isn’t an option. Relationships are a four-letter word in his book. He cares far too much for Jana to let his emotional baggage ultimately break her heart.

With the arrival of his best friend, Nick Pappas, the balance of temptation shifts. From their past history of sharing women, Nick knows every dirty trick it takes to lead Kevin astray, and he’s not afraid to use them. Particularly since Nick’s convinced that Jana is exactly what Kevin needs to be happy and whole.

Their game of seduction quickly snowballs into something that feels an awful lot like love—in triplicate. But with Kevin dead set on leaving Michigan, there’s a real possibility it could be a blue Christmas for them all.

Product Warnings: This book contains an extremely tormented voyeur, a very naughty and not so saintly Nick, a liberal application of candy cane-flavored body paint, a buzzing butterfly, and enough raunchy fun on a sex swing to melt a snowman…or two.

Along with this is a bottle of EDIBLE Peppermint Body oil. The oil warms as you rub it in and when you blot on the oil it gets HOTTER and a Chocolate Body Paint Kit! Yummy!

What could be more delicious than to cover your lover with broad strokes of chocolate body paint, and then follow each stroke of the brush, with a soft nibble or kiss?
2 oz. jar and paint brush included.

Peppy Peppermint! Peppermint flavored massage oil to enhance your mood. Apply and gently rub a small amount onto the desired area. It warms up as your rub it on. Blow on it - and it gets hotter!

Welcome to the Monday Mashup (a day late, but still going, its a no frills, but all thrills meme with no commitment issues! Just fun getting to know fellow bloggers. This blog is hosted by Amy H of DJ Library Dishes and Poison Rose of Picked byPoison. All we want to do is introduce you to your fellow bloggers whom you may or may not know and share the blog love!

If you'd like to be featured, or know someone you'd like us to feature, contact either Amy or Poison. Welcome to the Meme and enjoy getting to know another blogger.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you?
Thank you Sara for having me over. I am honored that you thought of me for this post on your blog! I am addicted to romance books and I co-blog for Under the Covers Book Blog. I have found the love for reading late in life and now trying to devour as many books as I can.

How long have you been blogging?
I started blogging about a good year now and have been enjoying it since.

Why did you get into blogging?
I started getting book recommendations from Goodreads and started to review them there myself. From there I met my co-bloggers and they invited me to join them. I found it fun, especially doing it with good people who share the same interests.

What are you currently reading, or what is your favorite book that you have read so far in 2012?
I am currently reading: The Care and Feeding of an Alpha Male by Jessica Clare. I’m enjoying this one a lot. I have a lot of favorite books this year and the one that come to mind now is Darynda Jones’ Third Grave Dead Ahead.

What is your favorite feature on your blog (i.e. author interviews, memes, something specific to your blog)?
I have no specific favorite on our blog. I love pretty much everything on there. But if I have to pick one, it would be the book reviews. I know Fran, Suz and Annie have similar taste in books and I trust their opinion. I think a lot of our followers can agree with me on that.

Where do you see your blog in five years?
Well, it is hard to predict where this blog will be in five years. But I can tell you where I’d like it to be; I would like the blog to be bigger, badder with more followers and more authors to come by with great giveaways. I wish that Fran, Annie, Suz and I stay exactly where we are…co-bloggers and good friends.

What literary location would you most like to visit? Why?
RT 2013 Convention. From what I hear this convention is mostly focused on the readers rather than authors/publishers. I also hear that J. R. Ward is there every year and I would love to meet her.

What is your favorite part about the book blogging community? Is there anything that you would like to see change in the coming years?
I love everything about the blogging community. Most of us see eye to eye for the love of the books, reviewing and discussing them is definitely fun. And meeting the authors is one of the great perks.

Have your reading tastes changed since you started blogging? How?
Yes. My reading taste definitely changed. It’s gotten darker..well, not so much darker but I think I have just been more open to other genres. There are so many great books out there no one should limit themselves. I have gone from strickly PNR and now I read UF, Contemporary, Romantic Suspense, Eroticas and my girls at UTC swear they will flip me over to the dark side and read more BDSM/MM books. I've read some light BDSM and NO M/M books but I'm open to it. :)

And about you:

What do you like to do in your downtime (besides read of course)?
That’s easy, and this is the only thing that can tear me away from my reading…spending time with the fambam.

If you were given a break to do one thing on your “bucket list” what would you do?
Someday, I will tour Europe. That place is so rich in history and culture that I would love to see it all.

If you went to your dream vacation spot where would we find you?
? I’m easy. Anywhere tropical, beautiful beach and a 5 star resort. Nothing can beat good service in paradise. =)

Flash Round

Cake or pie?
cake

Coffee or tea?
Coffee

Beach or mountains?
beack

Night owl or morning dove?
Night Owl

Thanks so much for sharing Ang. Its always fun to chat with fellow friends/Blogging buddies. And you rock! *HUGS*

Monday, October 8, 2012

Good Morning Everyone. Today I have Joanne Brothwell here to talk about her new novel Stealing Breath. Please welcome Joanne.

Hello Joanne! I’m thrilled to have you here and thanks for being today’s “Pick”.

Please share a little about you, your works and what got you into writing.

I’m a daydreamer. That’s what got me into writing - the myriad of stories and scenarios that constantly clutter up my mind. I’ve always been accused of daydreaming, but now I finally have a reason – I’m a writer!

I loved your story and the aspect of the Skinwalkers, can you tell a little about where that legend came from.

I first heard about the legend from a friend of mine, an Indigenous woman, who told me a story of her experience with the Skinwalkers of the four corners (Utah, New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado). It was a creepy story where she was basically harassed in the middle of the night while she was parked at the side of the road. She could hear maniacal laughter outside and her car was shaking violently. When she looked around, nobody was there. Later, her Navajo relative told her the experience may have been the result of Skinwalkers.

After I heard that, I just had to learn more! I began to research Skinwalkers online and in the library, and became increasingly intrigued by these evil shaman who can perform astral projection. Interestingly, the legends actually resulted in a paranormal investigation of an area near the four corners, called “The Skinwalker Ranch”!

There was also the Benandanti and the Malandanti, The Good versus Bad warlocks and spirit people. I was intrigued by the history behind that. How is it the bad survived while the good were killed and their kind became “extinct”?

According to history, the Benandanti were forced into giving up their beliefs because of the Inquisition. Over time, like any cultural genocide, the Benandanti just died out. But the history books don’t mention what happened to the Malandanti, so I started wondering – did they go extinct as well? Maybe not – maybe they survived, underground, undetected by the Inquisitors. Hmm… makes for a good story, no?

We meet Sarah (perfect name by the way, but spelled wrong…LOL) in the beginning and she is unaware of her heritage and her powers until her unfortunate encounter with the Skinwalker. She is an empath in a way, how does that shape her character in the book?

Being an empath is both a gift and a burden for Sarah. To have the emotions of others continually invading her consciousness takes a psychological toll on her, but it also offers her unique advantages that a regular human wouldn't have. Killing someone with kindness, if you will!

Sarah can put her feelings into tangible forms when she needs and manipulate energy. How did her abilities develop?

The first time she was able to manifest those abilities was when psychologically, she was in a place of complete and utter terror, facing the Skinwalker for the first time. Fear brings out our most primal instincts, and it was only under such dire circumstances that this ability was initially expressed.

We are also introduced to the enigma called Evan Valente. I love mystery men. Evan is somewhat Sarah’s opposite in many ways, but also so much like her. Evan has a history in the good vs. bad spirit people, but has a conscience that contradicts who he is supposed to be. We see him in so many lights, how did that come to play in his character?

I love mystery men too! I see Evan as a victim of his past, the end result of years of trauma and brainwashing. This is a nature vs. nurture issue, and I suppose that theme reflects the core beliefs of mine as an author - that people are basically good at their core. Evan’s childhood environment nearly poisoned his mind irreparably, but his underlying character, his basic personality remained intact. When he met Sarah, he was finally able to break free of the bonds of his past.

When Sarah finds out about Evan’s true mission she is abhorred, to put it mildly. And she runs, only to get caught between Evan and his brother, Stefano. Evan chooses sides and gets pitted against strong evil magic and his own sibling. How easy was it for him to turn against Stefano?

Evan had been subconsciously looking for a way to escape the Malandanti heritage for his entire life. It just wasn't until he had a reason to live, a reason to hope, beyond his horrible past that he was actually able to recognize it in himself and act on it.

Evan has as much to hide, as his true secret is revealed to Stefano after the pendant is removed. How is it that Stefano knows what/who he is when this came out, but Evan knows little about what it means to him?

Oh, boy – good question! The talisman (Valente pendant) Evan wore was given to him by his mother, whose ultimate goal was to hide his true nature from everyone, including Evan. After he has renounced his loyalty to the Malandanti and the pendant is removed, two things change simultaneously: he has lost both his protection the talisman provided as well as lost the magical advantages provided by the evil (the ability to see auras). He can’t see his own aura, and he can’t see Sarah’s anymore, either. Only Stefano sees it at that pivotal moment.

What can you tell us about this without spoiling the upcoming, Silencing Breath?

Here’s a little blurb:
Just as Sarah Ross is learning everything she can about her new abilities as an Indigo Child and settling into a normal life with her beloved Evan, her entire world shatters when Evan disappears without a trace.

Desperate to find him, Sarah’s attempts to uncover clues to his whereabouts end up leading her to a sadistic serial killer who confirms her worst fears are true; Evan has been kidnapped, and he is once again in the clutches of his abusive family of necromancers.

Sarah’s search leads her not only to Evan's dark past he tried so desperately to protect her from, but also to The Key of Solomon, an ancient text for summoning the dead.

In this dark sequel to Stealing Breath, Silencing Breath is coming in March, 2013 from Crescent Moon Press.

Did the plot and characters work out as you wanted or did they shape the story as you were writing?

The main character, Sarah, is basically the same as I wanted, although I did make her a little braver than I originally intended. Evan is completely different from what my early conception of him was, and his character definitely developed as the story unfolded. It was such a cool process to go through!

Favorite place to sit and write?
My comfy sofa, with my feet up on a stool, and a steaming cup of black coffee at my side table.

Computer or good old pen and paper?
Computer! I can type about 50 words a minute and I think really, really fast.

Pick your poison (alcoholic drink of choice when going out)
Okay, I don’t really drink, but when I do, I really love a cold beer on a hot day. :)

Thanks for stopping in Joanne, it was great to be able to pick your mind and talk about Sarah and Evan.

Stealing Breath

An ancient evil has resurfaced,
the soul of the Indigo Child is at stake.
Beware those with the Stealing Breath...

Deep in the backwoods of North Dakota, Sarah Ross is searching for a missing child when she is attacked by a glowing-eyed, transparent creature known to the Navajo as a Skinwalker. Using mysterious abilities, Sarah escapes, only to run directly into Evan Valente, a handsome, charismatic stranger who helps her back to safety. But why is Evan out in the forest so early in the morning?

Sarah learns her eyes bear the mark of the Indigo Child, an evolved human with the ability to feel the emotions of others; unfortunately, her indigo aura is highly desirable to those who wish to steal her powerful essence.

Soon, Sarah falls deeply in love with Evan and wants nothing more than to follow her heart, but she can't ignore the lingering feeling that Evan is hiding a terrible secret. The deeper she digs, the more danger she faces, forcing her to face the darkest, innermost parts of her soul.

Excerpt

“You saw that Evan guy again?” Amber asked. She sucked the last of her frothy pink drink through a straw. The mischievous look on her face was mirrored in the giddy emotions she gave off, emotions that were always especially loud when she was drinking. They resonated within me like a bouncy ball flying around in my stomach.

I downed another shot of “Sex on the Beach”, hoping it would finally be enough to filter out the emotions of everyone here. Smooth at first, then tart, the booze finally burned its way down the back of my throat. The buzz-on was almost immediate, and the effect was wonderful, the way it almost obliterated all of the sex-obsessed feelings that seemed to roll off of nearly ever patron at the bar like a hot blanket being wound around me. Sick.

We sat at a booth right next to the bar. Amber held her glass up, signaling to the bartender who nodded and began to pour. He bobbed his head to the blaring country music from the loudspeaker.

Tables ringed the bar, booths along the wall and stools on the other side. Every few feet a brightly lit neon beer sign provided a dash of garish décor. Right in the middle was the dance floor, a little postage-stamp sized circle of parquet flooring that reminded me of an interlocking puzzle. Alongside it was a raised section with a few pool tables.

“Yeah, I saw him.” I proceeded to explain his land development business to Amber and Kate, who listened with rapt expressions.

“That’s amazing. Nobody ever comes to Slave Lake. People only leave,” Amber said. Our waitress, dressed in skin-tight jeans and a too-tight tank-top, brought us another round. Behind her, the giant flat screen on the wall lit up with random explosions of fuchsia, neon yellow and acid green, perfectly paced with the lyrics of the canned music.

Kate sat across from me on the bench seating, her copper hair shimmering pink from the neon “Budweiser” sign and the black light hanging on the wall behind her. Her teeth were glowing an unnatural white in the light, and every piece of lint on her black shirt stood out like a 3D movie.

“How interesting that you both were out in the bush that morning,” Kate said.
I nodded. “I know. Quite a coincidence.”

Amber sat beside Kate in the bench seat, facing the bar. She leaned forward in one fluid motion, her black hair sweeping the table. “Sarah. Look who just walked in.” I turned in my seat. “And he’s coming right over—”

“Mind if I join you?” asked a familiar voice, before I’d even had a chance to look.

I turned and smiled at Evan. “Sure.”

He pulled a stool up to our table, his arms rippling with the movement. His very presence seemed to heat the air around me, his cologne eclipsing the bar smell of dirty jeans, stale beer and desperation.

I glanced at Kate and Amber, who both stared at him, bright-eyed. His dark fitted jeans hugged his legs, the denim slung low across narrow hips. A black t-shirt made of a material I couldn't identify hinted of the peaks and valleys of muscle beneath and a single silver chain with a dog-tag hung at his neck, a crest emblem engraved on it with the name Valente. This guy would look good in a burlap sack. Or nothing.

“You remember Kate and Amber from the campground?” I asked. They nodded in acknowledgement and exchanged niceties. Then Amber and Kate excused themselves and hit the dance floor. They’d been dancing together since we’d become bar age, both of them with the attitude that they weren't about to wait around for a guy to ask.

Evan and I watched as they twirled each other around, the only people dancing in the whole bar. Then they attempted to two-step, each of them fighting to lead. Goofballs.

I turned back to Evan. “How are you?”

He flashed that thousand-watt smile. “I’m great. You?” He inched closer and the atmosphere around my head seemed charged, like a swelling electrical storm. A shiver traveled through my body.

“Fine, thanks.” I smiled.

“You look great.” He gestured to my outfit.
I looked down at my jeans and a loose white shirt and glanced back up at him, cocking my eyebrow. “Thanks?”

“What? Not used to compliments?”

“Not when I’m dressed like a slob, no, not really.”

He rolled his eyes. “You look awesome. Seriously. Want to dance?”

I stared at him, half-expecting he was kidding. But his face showed no trace of a joke. I glanced at the dance floor where Kate and Amber had begun to dance hip hop to the country beat.

I turned back to him. He held out his hand, across the table. Reluctantly, I took it and he led me to the dance floor where Amber and Kate made room for us, their expressions barely-muted surprise. People rarely danced in Slave Lake. Except for Amber and Kate, of course.

Evan placed his palm in my right hand and set his other hand on my waist. I glanced up at a set of smoldering eyes and immediately looked away, his gaze too intense. Unfortunately, by looking away, I realized that every single person in the bar was staring at us. Some people, who should have had their backs to us, had actually turned around on their stool to gawk. I felt like a fish in a fishbowl.

Evan leaned down, his breath caressing my cheek. I caught a silky coil of his scent, a rich, musky fragrance of expensive cologne, soap and his own unique smell. It was addictive. The hand on my waist snaked around to my back, pulling me closer. Heat radiated over my entire body as we began to move in slow, gentle circles. When the song came to an end, my arm fell from his shoulder. His hands didn't move.

“One more?” he asked as the music transitioned to a faster song, modern country with a dance beat. Kate and Amber were already dancing to it in a way that looked more fitting for a city club, Amber’s arms reaching up and over her head, hips swinging. Kate had her own little groove going alongside her.

“Sure,” I said.

He smiled and set his hand back on my waist, and suddenly we were in the fastest two-step I’d ever danced in my life. We moved around the dance floor at a dizzying pace, spinning circles around Kate and Amber who were laughing out loud watching us.

He twirled me several times, only to end up back in that break-neck, two-stepping pace once again. Now I was giggling to the point of breathlessness, my head spinning from the four shots I’d just downed and my racing pulse. He spun me three more times, and when the song ended, he lowered me into a long dip.

With his arm around my back, I was gently pulled up, our bodies touching from torso all the way down, so that even the tips of our shoes connected. I looked into his face, expecting to see a grin, but was met with a burning look that made my heart stutter and my breath catch. The whiskey on his breath was all I could think of, the heat of his mouth, so close to mine.

Then a sensation folded over me. A soft lethargy, like I was levitating, weightless. My eyes closed, and explosions of purple and blue light flashed behind my eyelids. I relaxed into the feeling.

“Are you okay?” Evan asked. I opened my eyes. He peered down at me, forehead wrinkled with concern. His skin was flushed bright pink.

My lungs began to re-inflate as my entire body tingled like I’d just had the best orgasm of my life.

Had he even kissed me? I licked my lips, but there was no taste of whiskey, no evidence of his mouth on mine. Obviously I’d had one too many shots. And yet, I felt perfectly lucid, his gorgeous face crystal clear before me.

“Uh…I’m fine,” I said, my voice breathy. There had to be an explanation. Like maybe I was losing my mind. Or maybe my fainting spells were starting to happen again, ever since the stressful Skinwalker incident. Whatever it was, right now I had to make sure this perfect specimen of a man in front of me did not think I was a raving lunatic. I forced myself to speak, my mind scrambling for small-talk. “I…I had no idea you could dance like that.”

The concerned look faded, and he flashed his perfect teeth. “Thanks. You’re not too bad, yourself.”

I dropped my hand from around his shoulder and backed up. He let go of me slowly, as if with reluctance.

“Come on. I need a drink,” I said, motioning back to the bar where Amber and Kate had just sat down. We veered toward them.

Evan made eye contact with the bartender who nodded at both of us. “Scotch, on the rocks, please. What are you drinking?”

“I’ll have a Long Island Iced T—”

“Who’s he?” A guy’s voice said, close enough that I cringed from the volume. I whipped around.

Jeff Hansen. Town drunk that never seemed to do much of anything, other than sit in the bar, hit on locals and look pissed off. And boy, did he look pissed off. Emotions rolled off him like jagged pieces of glass, hurt and anger all twisted up into one gigantic ball of irritation.

“He’s cool, Jeff. He’s with me,” I said. My heart started to pound as I remembered the last time Jeff had picked a fight. He’d bitten a guy’s ear and torn part of it right off.

Jeff stared at Evan, his teeth exposed like he was snarling.

“Is he treating you right, Sarah?”

“It’s all good, Jeff,” I said.

“You think you’re pretty tough?” Jeff said through gritted teeth. He stepped forward and poked Evan in the chest. Evan was pushed slightly off-balance, and he took a step backward.

My stomach clenched. “Jeff, I said it’s cool.”

Evan straightened up. He had at least four inches on Jeff and well over thirty pounds. Jeff stepped back, and the sickly-sweet smell of weed came wafting off of his ratty jean jacket.

Evan looked down his nose at Jeff. “Back off, man.” His jaw muscles popped in and out, and his hands balled up at his sides. The only thing Jeff had going for him was a bad attitude and liquid courage.

“Shut up, asshole!” Jeff slurred, a fine mist of spittle burst from his mouth and rained all over us. Jeff turned his head and flashed a snide grin, probably to impress his buddies who watched the spectacle along the sidelines of the bar.

“Jeff, stop it!” I said. Jeff ignored me completely, staring at Evan. I reached for Evan’s hand, wound my fingers through his and tugged. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”

Evan nodded, and we strode toward the exterior door. I glanced back to see Jeff running. He ran straight into Evan, knocking him forward.

Evan hit the crash bar of the metal door, his body weight forcing it wide open so that it squeaked when the hinges were pushed to their limit. My heart jumped into my throat as he stumbled and fell onto the cement outside. Immediately, he righted himself and jumped back to his feet.

Jeff smiled, eyes flashing. “I bet that hurt, didn’t it, tough guy?”

I ran toward Jeff. “Stop it! Just leave him alone!”

Jeff smiled at me. “Aww, you’re getting your little bi-otch to fight for you.” Then he turned back to Evan. “Tell you’re ho to shut her pie-hole, or I’ll shut it for her.”

“You’re going to wish you’d never said that,” Evan said, his voice a low, warning growl.

Jeff snorted. “You’re in my town. You’re gonna regret having a mouth.” His arms rose above his head in some kind of attempt to look intimidating, but to me he looked like a bird about to take flight.

“Stop it, Jeff.”

Stepping forward, Jeff hurtled his fist toward Evan’s face but Evan snatched his clenched fist mid-air. I lunged toward them, placing one hand on Evan and the other hand on Jeff’s jacket.

Instantly, the atmosphere around my head changed, filling with static.

The lights above the entryway flickered, humming like dying bees before building into a sizzling pulse. With a bang, the lights exploded in a rainfall of glass shards. I ducked to shield my face.

I opened my eyes and gasped. Jeff lay crumpled on the ground, his torso folded inward, his limbs pulled into a fetal position, moaning as he clutched his stomach. Then his face went slack, and his eyes rolled back into his head. Why was he on the ground? And why did he look like he’d been knocked out cold?

I glanced around, but all I could hear was the retreating sound of footsteps running outside, the parking lot no longer lit up by the overhead light.

“Evan?” I called out.

Silence.

Stealing Breath is a darkly romantic tale of a young woman’s journey for love within the fearsome realm of the paranormal. It is a spellbinding read that mines the inner workings of the human character. Love, loss and the quest for redemption, these characters will echo in your mind long after you've put the book down.

Review

Sarah is out for an early morning walk when voices, which sounds like the local missing girl, start to be heard. Sarah follows the sound to an old decrepit house in the woods. She enters thinking the missing girl is inside, but the voices are gone. Soon she gets the feeling she is being watched. That's when the eyes appear surrounded by a dark matter. She is scared out of her wits, but with thinking she can fend off the creature she pushes out with her feelings and manage to temporarily fend it off and flee. Out in the woods she runs smack dab into Evan.

Evan appears in the woods rather...suddenly and helps Sarah calm down and he takes her back to their camp site. He can't help but feel that there is something about her that draws him in. But with his own secrets haunting him getting close to Sarah will only put her in danger as well.

Sarah returns home to try and go back to normal, but when she tells her friends they know something is up. They send her to see her friend Kate's mom. when she tells Sarah only confirms that skinwalkers have come. They try to cleanse Sarah, but something isn't right... the shaman tells her there is a dark, evil presence that wants HER.

As Sarah begins to see Evan things start to unfold. They go from good to bad once Evan's brother, Stefano, comes into town. Sarah soon finds out SHE is their target. She flees and is then pursued by Stefano. Even when Evan tries to plea his case the trouble seems to multiply. Evan's secret soon comes to the forefront and he must decide which side he's on. his choice only puts them both in danger as they find out Evan is also a gifted child. Realizing that only together can they defeat Stefano. They fight him off, but not before he can escape to continue to hunt them down. However, their fight had a high price to keep them both safe. Now they are on the run...

GIVEAWAY

As part of her Tour Joanne is giving away 2 eBook copies of Stealing Breath. All you need to do is fill in the rafflecopter form below to enter. Good Luck and thanks for dropping in!